Type-writer.



A. A. WST.

TYPE WFJ'EH.

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Patented Dec. 14,

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.AUGUSTUS ALBERT WEST, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TYPENVRITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed March 22, i911. Serial No 616,196.'

T 0 all uho'm it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS ALBERT VVEs'r, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-intera of which the following is a specification.

The device, the subject of this application while properly termed an improvement in typewriters is intended more especially as an improvement in the key lever operating mechanism and the type bar, and although certain other improvements are noticeable it is my intention cto make them the subject of additional applications and to that end I have executed an application for United States Letters Patent for an improvement in paper rollers or platens and the carriage upon which the roller is mounted, which application hears the date of March 22d, 1911, serial #616395.

My observation has satisfied me that much improvement can be made in the mechanism that operates the type bars, not only with a view to simplify the structure but also to increase its efficiency along-certain lines. I have discovered that a certain improved power transmitting means may be employed that although not requiring a longer or more powerful depression of the key will nevertheless produce a more powerful stroke of the characters, which will be found especially useful in certain classes of work.

The following is what I consider the best means of carrying out this invention.

The accompanyingr drawings form a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vieu7 in side elevation partly in section, in this view as in many of the others, the operating mechanism of but one key and type bar is shown. Fig. 2 is a plan view. This View is not complete, the Aremaining parts being duplicates of the parts shown. Fig. 3 is a View in perspective, o1 an assembled typewriter into which my im provements have been incorporated. Fig. 4 and the remaining figures are on a larger scale, they show a single key and type bar operating mechanisms and the parts adjacent thereto. Figs. 4 and 5 are in side elevation, partly in section. Figs. G and 7 are in plan, and Figs. 8 and 9 are in side elevation, and show the striking mechanism in two different positions during its operation,

Similar reference characters indicate like parts in all the figures where they appear.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that I have indicated all of the keys and the bars by which they are Supported by the reference numerals 1 to 2S and 1il to 283 respectively, and as these members are in duplicate I .choose to describe one only and have chosen Yone that 1s shown arranged near the center of the group and indicated by 155.v

Now referring to the figures in which the details of construction are shown, 15 indicates the key arranged to receive the pressure from the finger of the operator and 15 the standard upon which the key is supported. A bar 15", which I may term a lever bar supports the standard 15a. This bar is in turn supported by the pivot 15s, which passes through a hole provided for it near one end of the bar 15". This arrangement divides the bar 15 up into two unequal parts, and secured to the shorter part of the bar is the coiled spring 15, which operates to depress that end and thus elevate the long inwardly extending end of the bar. The lower end of the spring 15 is secured to any convenient point on the base of the machine, and the upper end is adjustably secured to an adjusting screw 15' arranged in the'short end of the lever bar 15". The spring 15c and screw 1.5 operate to limit the movement of the lever 15".

The type bars are indicated at 15d. Each is bent at a right angle at a point less than mid-length of the bar. The shorter portion of the type bar 15d carries the printing characters and although 1 have shown but three characters on each bar this number may be increased or otherwise varied. The longer part of the bar is supported in the brackets B, of which there are two, one arranged ad jacent to the right angle bend in the bar 15d and the other supporting the outwardly eX- tending longer end. A spring 15t arranged upon the longer section of the bar 15d and adjacent to one of the brackets B will be described when the operation of the Whole device is set forth.

Pivotally secured to the inner or longer part of the bar 15", and not far from the end thereof is the sub-lever or latch member 15g secured upon' the pivot 15 and heic` normally in a nearly vertical position by the spring 15S. The member 15g is pivoteo quite near its cengpgand the lower end is rounded so that when the depression of the key 15 forces downward the inner end of the rod 15b and the parts carried thereby, they rounded end of the latch member 15g lwill Contact with the upper side of the sub-base C and be-t'orced rearward thus causing the member 15g to rock or partly rotate on its bearing pivot 15.

A pivot 15m arranged near the upper end of the member 15g supports the link 15e, which connects the arm 15t to the latch 15g and a pivot 15h provides a loose but secure connection between the arm l" and the link 15e. 'l`he arm lf is secured to the type bar 15l and any motion of the arm 15" will be accompanied by a like motion inthe type bar, and an adjusting screw 15l supported by the casing 33, and having the slotted head 15 and the lock nut 151J has its lower end arranged adjacent to the arm 15f and adjustably limits the extent of the upward travel of the arm 15f, thus regulating the amount of travel of the type-bar.

Arranged adjacent to the inner end of the bar 15 and pivotally supported by the brackets 15" and 15 I have arranged the longitudinally slotted member 15, the slot of which accommodates the horizontal portion of the type bar 15, and secured to the type bar and in constant bearing with the upwardly extending ends of the member 15, I have arranged the collar 15. The member 15l is held at an angle, the lower end extending inward toward the center of the machine, and the upper end outward. Downward pressure on the bar 15b rocks the member 1.3i by forcing outward the lower end thereof, and the upper end which is forced in carries with it the collar 151 and advances the character carrying end of the type bar 15l to the center line. It is obvious that this construction being duplicated on each ot' the keys 1, 2, 3, etc., or arranged in operable relation therewith, each of the type bars will upon the depression oi the key to which it is connected advance to a common center. member will then come in contact with the subbase C and through the links 15 and rods 15 be rotated through an are and be Caused to strike a conveniently arranged platen or ya paper carried thereby. The operation of the member 151 is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and the operation ot the members 15e, 15f, 15b', etc., are shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

A spacing bar 30 supported by the pins 30 and 30 is shown arranged across in front of the keys and the shift keys 3l and 32, supported by the vertical bars 3l and 32" are shown at the. lel't of the key bank. All ot' these members are described in detail in another application dated March 22nd, 1an, serial #autism The cover 2525 having the iip\\.= irtily extending and centrally disposed chamber 34u and perforated to accommodate the many operating parts may be of sheet iron enameled, and the base ,d may be a casting. I have so constructed them and I prefer the whole as shown and described.

So that the action of the whole device may be more readily understood I will add a short, description of the action using the reference characters in conjunction with the names of each of the parts.

The operator pressing with the finger on the key 15, forces down the standard 15, and the bar llagainst the pull of the spring 15C. The member 15e' pivoted at l5" to the bar 15' is carried down until its lower end strikes the base C at which time the member 15e' is rocked on its pivot and pulling the link 15 partially rotates the type bar 15li and causes the character carrying part to strike the platen. Before the member la; has reached the base C, the member lai has been oscillated by having `its lower end pushed backward by the bar 15b, and the upper end thus caused to advance pushes against the collar 15 and brings the type bar 15" into the center or striking line. Releasing the pressure on the key 15 allows all of the parts to be restored to their normal position by reason of the springs connected thereto. ll`he bar 15b is restored by the spring 15, the member 15g is brought to a nearly perpendicular position by the spring 15s and the type bar 15d is withdrawn from the center line by the spring 15.

This arrangement and construction has a number of advantages among which are the short and powerful downward stroke, the visible writing line, and the low arrangement of the platen which results in the pro duction oi' a machine of a very small size.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without de parting from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of this invention. It is possible that some of the springs may be omitted,

and it is possible that a somewhat modified structure may be designed. Other modifications may be made by a good mechanic.

llaving carefully and fully described my invention what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. ln a typewriter, a lever member, a typev bar adapted to be moved toward the platen by said lever member, a centrally pivoted forked member straddling said type-barand adapted to be oscillatedby said lever member for reciprocating said type-bar laterally, and a guide arranged adjacent to said forked member, said guide being adapted to support the said lever member against displacement by the said forked member as herein specified.

Ina typewriter, a lever member, a typebar moved toward the platen by said lever by Suid lever, adjustable means lfm'- applying n tension in opposition to the dowmnrd movement of said key :md un zxdjxstable screw :1l-ranged adjacent to @nld type bar fm' limtlng the extnt nl' the upward move mvnt of said type lm!- :xs herein @purlliedm 6. In :l lypewrtel, z key, a lrvcx member pivonlly Supportmll below und connected i0 Suid key, :i rotntzlblv n'zemlm scxri'ml t0 smid lever member :li substantially rgllt angles thereto. uml llmlngf (me of its ends rounded, :1 type bnr :Mimik :fl ndjucem tu said rotatable mcmbf-x' :xml ll've to rmolve :and xer'pl'o cull; :l mank 5m-rival by Suid type bal, :md a l'zrxk commuting ,will smul( wlll said rotatablcy mvmbmz lu combmml willi :x wnunlly pinned full; and :a collauxcd upm! sniil type lm z' :uraligcd adjuvant m Suid layer n'wmbm fur xcclploczxtlng ,said type nur prim* to its IQtntlon.

Signed :lt New York city. county :md Stute of No York' thllg :1 day of March 1911 lu tlxo pres-Mice of two wtnwsvs.

GUSFU S ALB E RT VEST. 

